Man hit by bus after council removed traffic lights at crossing

The crash which has left Baldwin Street closed as police collision investigators scouring the scene happened at a long-standing crossing point of this busy main road through the city centre.

A Long Ashton Park and Ride service bus was involved in a collision with a man on Friday morning at the crossing point close to the western end of Baldwin Street, between Café Gusto and the Santander Bank at the junction of Clare Street and Broadweir.

The traffic light pedestrian crossing there was taken away to make room for an extension to the cycle path road which runs along Baldwin Street, to complete the missing link between the Marsh Street junction and The Centre.

That work has progressed since last year and is largely completed.

But the last remaining work to do was to reinstate the traffic lights crossing points for pedestrians, who now have to cross both the road and the cycleway.

Our reporter's view from the scene

Our reporter Alex Ballinger was at the scene not long after the man was hit by the bus. Here is his report from the scene:

“I made it down to the scene about an hour after the incident happened and you could see police cars redirecting traffic from Bristol bridge. The road was closed from Queen Charlotte Street but some traffic was being allowed to travel down Baldwin Street.

“Officers had fully cordoned off and closed the opposite end of Baldwin Street between the corner of Marsh Street up to Colston Avenue in The Centre. Just as I arrived an ambulance pull away from the scene but there were still about four police cars parked up with a number of officers milling around. One officer appeared to be visiting nearby shops to speak to staff.

“The bus had stopped a few metres up the road from where the collision appeared to have happened, which was at the pedestrian crossing outside Caffe Gusto.

“The front windscreen of the bus had been cracked by the collision. On the floor behind the bus there appeared to be some clothes with a small blood mark on the pavement.

“After speaking to officers on the scene and chatting with shop staff nearby, I gathered that a pedestrian had been hit by the bus and had been taken to hospital.

“I left the scene at around 12.30pm, two hours after the crash and there were no signs that the road would be opening soon.

“There was no major disruption to traffic at either end of Baldwin Street from what I could see.”

Balwin Street is closed in both directions

13:20Natasha Davies

Road expected to remain closed for some time

Baldwin Street has now been closed for almost three hours.

Specialist collision investigators are continuing to work at the scene.

It is not known when the road might reopen.

A diversion is in place and drivers are advised to avoid the area where possible.

12:30Natasha Davies

Police confirm man has serious head injuries

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police has told the Bristol Post that a pedestrian has serious head injuries after the bus crash.

The man has been taken to Southmead Hospital for treatment.

12:23Natasha Davies

Bus involved appears to be Long Ashton Park and Ride service

The bus involved in the crash appears to be a Long Ashton Park and Ride service which runs between the city centre and Long Ashton via Hotwells, Temple Meads, Old Market and Broadmead.

The bus involved in the crash in Baldwin Street

12:15Natasha Davies

Photos from the scene

Here are some photos from the scene of the crash this morning.

The road remains closed and a man has been taken to hospital with head injuries.

11:58KEY EVENT

Man suffers head injuries in crash

A South Western Ambulance Service spokesman has confirmed in the last few minutes that a man has been taken to hospital with head injuries after this morning’s crash.

Three ambulances and two rapid response vehicles were sent to Baldwin Street shortly after 10.30am.

They found a man with a head injury who has been taken to Southmead Hospital for treatment.

His condition is not clear but police are describing the incident as “serious”.

BreakingKEY EVENT

Police at scene say crash involved bus and pedestrian

A police officer at the scene of this serious incident has told our reporter that the crash involved a bus and a pedestrian.

An ambulance has been seen leaving Baldwin Street.

11:51Natasha Davies

What we know so far

Baldwin Street in Bristol city centre has been closed in both directions after a serious crash.